Check Engine Light: The First Signal

A recent customer at "The Neighbor's Kid Auto Repair" brought in their Audi with a familiar issue: a lit check engine light and a noticeable drop in performance. This was a clear sign that something was amiss under the hood.

Courtesy Inspection Reveals Misfires and Oil Leaks

Our thorough courtesy inspection quickly identified the culprits: misfires on cylinders 1 and 3. Alongside the misfires, there were multiple oil leaks from the camshaft cover, front timing cover, oil pan, and potentially the rear main seal.

Prioritizing Drivability: Cam Cover and Intake Valve Cleaning

Before we could tackle the oil leaks, it was crucial to address the immediate drivability concerns caused by the misfiring. The repair began with the cam cover and meticulous intake valve cleaning using special techniques and tools developed for turbocharged direct-injection engines found in Ford Ecoboost, BMW’s and VW/Audi. Carbon buildup on intake valves is common in direct injection engines, and removing these deposits is key to engine performance and preventing vehicles from entering “limp mode” or a form of catalyst protection mode.

Restored Performance and Scheduled Follow-Up

The result of the cleaning was immediate: the misfires ceased, and the Audi's performance was rejuvenated. In addition to the cleaning, we replaced the ignition coil packs, the spark plugs, gaskets and removed and resealed the camshaft cover. The customer left our shop with their vehicle's drivability restored and plans to return for the comprehensive sealing service that would address the remaining oil leaks.

Conclusion: A Stepwise Approach to Engine Health

This experience underscores The Neighbor’s Kid Auto Repair approach to automotive care: address the most pressing issues first to ensure our customers can continue their daily use of the vehicle, then follow up with necessary preventative maintenance to extend the value of their investments. The customer was pleased with the restored performance and reliability, and we've scheduled their next service to tackle the remaining oil leaks.

Intake valves in the misfiring cylinder are caked with fuel/oil/air/debris and glow like burning marshmellows when the engine is running. Prior to direct injection, fuel was sprayed over these intake valves through the intake manifold and kept the valves cleaner over longer miles.

Below is the same cylinder post-cleaning, and along with the new coil packs and spark plugs, the engine is once again running flawlessly and making great power.

Zack aka, “The Neighbor’s Kid”, our lead tech is finishing up the repair.